If you have been on the open market for around 3 months with no serious interest or offers, then this can be very stressful and very disheartening. Here are my top 7 reasons your house is not selling.
Hopefully these 7 reasons your house is not selling will help you feel motivated and open to make changes. If all these suggestions are actioned then I am really confident it will make a positive impact for you.
Asking Price can be a main reason your house is not selling.
Is your asking price too high for your house? Have you had repeated low offers which you have rejected?
Ask your agent if any viewers have commented about the asking price. Do your viewers they think your asking price is too high? Look at the properties which you are competing against. How does your asking price compare to theirs?
Your agents are the professionals so ensure you take their advice on the asking price at the beginning to ensure your house is realistically priced.
In my professional experience asking prices which are too high and unrealistic are the most common reasons your house is not selling.
Photos could be the reasons your house is not selling
It may be that you chose to take your own photos. Or your agent chose to take them for you. Are the photos dark? Do they only show certain corners of rooms? Do you have enough photos? Or maybe too many photos?
I would highly recommend that a professional photographer takes photos of your home. They are experts and will present you with a great set of photos to showcase your house. It’s money very well spent. Having poor photos and no floor plan could be the reasons why your house is not selling.
If your thinking Can you take your own estate agent photos? then read here.
First Impressions putting buyers off
After seeing a house they like online, one of the first thing buyers will do is walk or drive past the property. Even before booking a viewing! How are the first impressions of your home? Is there anything putting people off? Anything unsightly that you can change?
First impressions are super important and the smallest thing can put people off. If they don’t like what they see then they will disregard the property and decide not to take the next step to book a viewing. You only get one chance at a first impression so make sure its not the reason your house is not selling.
Clutter is always disliked by buyers
Is your house cluttered? We all live in varying degree of clutter meaning we don’t see it ourselves. We live in it, so we get used to it.
I would recommend you go right back to your front door. Walk through your house room by room with a new set of eyes. Even have a friend or family member do it with you. Can you see surfaces on the coffee table? Are there too many ornaments or photos frames? Is there piles of magazines? Too many shoes at the front door? Clutter is off putting and can be the reason your house is not selling.
Try and see it how your viewers would see it. Less is more and if that means getting boxes and temporarily de-cluttering your home.
Launched at the wrong time of year
If you have launched in the middle of a bleak, dark & miserable December and your wandering why you have had no viewers. Hang on in there my friends. Sit tight as this shall pass and New Year will be with you soon. People are far too busy buying presents & putting up their Christmas tree in December to think about selling, therefore don’t worry too much if the viewers aren’t coming in.
Its not all bad
Being actively for sale during the quieter months ensures people browsing on Rightmove during the holidays will see your house. The young couple in the apartment down the road might get an offer. Immediately, they will then be in the market to buy right in the middle of that bleak dark December. Remember, It’s not necessarily a bad thing to be on the market at this time of year, just don’t expect big things or viewings until the New Year.
It wont be the main reason your house is not selling, but might mean it takes a little longer.
Do you have the right estate agent?
The agent marketing your home has to be the right agent. They must be passionate about your home and what it offers, enthusiastic and excited to show potential buyers. If your looking to understand How to choose an estate agent look here.
Exposure need to be high. Make sure its one of the reasons your house is not selling.
Is the exposure of your property at its maximum? Has your home featured in all your agents social media platforms? Go onto all the web portals where your home is featured and ensure they are listed and easy to find. Is your home in the agents front window? Have your agents put your property forward for any property publications?
Without exposure your house will not sell. The exposure can be local, national & international but if your agent is not working hard enough for you, they could be the reasons you house is not selling.
These 7 reasons your house is not selling should give you some encouragement and ideas to make changes. Be positive, take advice on board and move forward. You will have that offer in no time.